Drain on balcony - Two Questions

lilibeth

1. Firstly can anyone show me a diagram of how the drainage system between balconys on a group of flats (identical layout directly one on top of each other) works.

In the right hand corner of the balcony is a pipe from floor to ceiling going between the flat above and flat below, sealed. Then a little way a away is a circular raised drain grate.

2. The second question.
The drain is blocked at balcony level. Unsurprising really as the balcony was an inch deep in dirt cat litter and rubbish on moving in. It was cleared away by hand but the drain has decided it no longer wishes to drain it will drain away eventually but is now incredibly slow. And I can see the hair and crap but we can't get to it because we can't get the cover off. Is it safe to use something like Domestos sink and pipe unblocker on it? There are no contraindications on the packet. We have already tried poking it with a chopstick and a copious amounts of washing soda and boiling water, put down at 15 min intervals because it won't take a full kettle or even half at one go.

I don't want to cause a problem for the neighbours.

P.S. I've already done a search on here and read through about twenty threads none of which helped - before someone suggests it without thinking.


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mikey72

What's stopping the cover coming off. Is it bolted down, or is there just no access to it?
As it's a flat, is it covered by the maintenance contract?

lilibeth

mikey72 wrote: »

What's stopping the cover coming off. Is it bolted down, or is there just no access to it?
As it's a flat, is it covered by the maintenance contract?

It has a weird dome on it. It is really old. Seems to be no way to get it off we tried turning it. No maintanence contract!
Can we put the domestos sink and pipe stuff down it?

ormus

http://www.thesitebox.com/Product/114459/3344k-drain-auger-25ft-x-14in.aspx

try summat like this. itll go through/past drain strainers.

lilibeth

I've already got one of those and I'm not putting it down I can't even poke the chopstick to far and I'm not risking it getting stuck. Plus it will push the problem further down I want to dissolve the problem. Thanks anyway.

And again I ask does anybody know if I can put Domestos sink and pipe unblocker down it safely.

Yes or No?

Thanks

Canucklehead

Hi

I would say that's ok to use. Pipe will be much the same as any other waste pipe.
Quite a variation of gully but some domes are fixed by a hook bolt, maybe yours is just stuck down with dirt etc.

Corgi Guy.

lilibeth

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

I would say that's ok to use. Pipe will be much the same as any other waste pipe.
Quite a variation of gully but some domes are fixed by a hook bolt, maybe yours is just stuck down with dirt etc.

Corgi Guy.

Thanks very much it is appreciated. I'll get hold of some and whack it in overnight.
Incidentally the dome has what looks like an upside down bolt in the middle.
So not a bolt head but the screw bit.
I don't know if that makes any sense to you

Canucklehead

Hi

That sounds like the hook bolt arrangement. Not sure if it will be any use as it's probably seized up.You could try getting a bit physical with it ... loosen things up a bit?

Corgi Guy.

lilibeth

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

That sounds like the hook bolt arrangement. Not sure if it will be any use as it's probably seized up.You could try getting a bit physical with it ... loosen things up a bit?

Corgi Guy.

How? The bolt only extends a couple of millimeters out of the top of the dome. Are we meant to turn the dome? If so which way?

I have never seen one of these before so I have no idea how they are attached.

Thanks again

ormus

turn the dome anti clockwise to unscrew it.
use some wd40 on the thread first. then get mad with it!

(beware you make break it and then require a new one).

lilibeth

ormus wrote: »

turn the dome anti clockwise to unscrew it.
use some wd40 on the thread first. then get mad with it!

(beware you make break it and then require a new one).

You Sir are a genius. I had no WD40 but I did have a can of GT85 (lubricant stuff for a bike) a quick and liberal spray and it turned as easy as.
I was shocked I didn't think I would ever get it off. And it didn't break.
There was an absolute mass of hair, feathers, and paint chips (the balcony is ancient and the floor chips every time you sweep it). So I took to it with the chopstick and hooked it all out, I can see where the pipe goes for the first time ever.

The only annoying thing is it won't screw back on but it is heavy and old and sits in exactly the position it did before with the screw poking up as it did before, so I suppose it is fine.

Thank you very much indeed, I'm extremely grateful.:T